Reading the Signs

Starsky can read the signs when something’s bothering Hutch. He knows the best way to give his partner space to unwind and talk about it.

Starsky knew the signs. To be fair, they weren’t hard to spot. One: irritability. Two: excessive sighing. Three: continuous rolling of the eyes. Four: not wanting to spend time with friends.

The difference between everyone else seeing the signs and him observing them was the knowledge that only he had. Only he knew what the lead up to the signs had been. And only he also knew a sure-fire cure.

To get the cure underway this weekend, Starsky put a call in to Huggy who then put a call in to a guy who owed him a favour. Soon plans were in place. Starsky just had to get Hutch through Friday’s shift without his partner losing it with anyone in authority, leading to at best a rip, at worst being fired.

Fortunately, the shift went fairly smoothly and they were now on their way to finish writing reports before the weekend. Starsky decided it was time to fill Hutch in on his plans before they got back to the squad room and were bogged down in writing up those dreaded reports. He pulled the car over. Hutch looked at him with curiosity.

“Once we get those reports written up, I’m gonna drop you home. You’re gonna water your plants so they’ll live through the weekend and you’re gonna pack a bag for two nights away,” Starsky instructed his partner. “I’m gonna get my bag then collect food supplies.”

Hutch went to argue, then blinked and then let out a long, weary sigh.

“Where are we headed?”

“Huggy knows a guy with a property at East Beach, Santa Barbara. Nice and quiet, two minute walk to the beach. It’s got its own BBQ. We don’t have to go out anywhere or see anyone.”

Hutch nodded. “Sounds perfect, but how much is it gonna cost?”

“Nutthin’. It’s early in the season and the guy owed Huggy. We get to use the place for free.”

Hutch smiled the first genuine smile he’d had on his face all week.

“Let’s go get those reports done!”

Starsky grinned and started the engine.

*****

They arrived late; too late to see the view and too late to do more than eat a light snack before calling it a night. Starsky took the couch and let Hutch have the bedroom, figuring that his friend needed undisturbed rest more than he did. He woke early and jumped up, stretching out the kinks in his back as he walked to the bathroom. On the way back through the living room, he drew back the curtains and whistled when he saw the view.

After a couple of minutes, hunger got the better of him and he tore himself away from the view to go into the kitchen and start making some breakfast. He fried up some bacon and poached some eggs, which he placed in a covered pan in the oven to keep warm. Then he made some oatmeal and looked out the bag of fruit Hutch had brought with him and placed it on the table. He was just debating whether to wake Hutch up or eat without him when he heard sounds of movement.

Hutch appeared just as Starsky placed two bowls of oatmeal on the table and turned to get the bacon and eggs out of the oven.

“Smells good.”

“Figured you might be as hungry as I am,” Starsky said, as he sat down. “Did you see the view?”

“Yes, it’s fantastic. Can’t wait to get out there for a walk.”

“Huggy outdid himself.”

“He sure did.”

They ate in companionable silence. Hutch chopped up a peach -the first of the freestone crop that he had bought this year – and placed slices of it on top of his oatmeal. He slipped a few slices into Starsky’s bowl before he could protest. Starsky rolled his eyes but when he tasted the sweet fruit he had to admit it was good.

The two of them cleared away the breakfast things and then got dressed for the pleasantly warm day that was awaiting them.

“What are you gonna do?” Starsky wanted to know.

“Take a walk,” Hutch replied. “You?”

“I think I’ll walk up the road to that store we passed last night and get a paper then I’ll find a place on the beach to sit and read.”

Hutch nodded and then was gone. Starsky walked over to the window and watched to see which way his friend decided to go. Hutch headed along the single track road to the beach and then went left. Starsky nodded. He would sit on the rocks straight ahead of the property and maybe take a walk along to the right. Today, he would leave Hutch to himself. There were times when they both needed space. This was one of those times. But tonight, they would talk. Even if Hutch didn’t think he needed to, Starsky would try to get him to open up about the case two weeks ago that had got underneath his friend’s carefully built barriers and made him raw to anything that now came their way.

*****

The beef steaks were sizzling on the BBQ. Hutch was making salad for them both and Starsky was breaking open some crusty rolls to go with their meal.

“Wine or beer?” Starsky asked.

Hutch considered the meal they were about to eat, before saying, “I think wine.”

Starsky retrieved the bottle of red from a cupboard and opened it. Then he headed outside to check on the beef.

“It’s ready!” he called.

He pulled the steaks from the pit and placed them carefully on each plate from the table set up outside for al fresco eating. Hutch appeared carrying the bowl of salad and two wine glasses. He went back for the rolls and then the two of them sat down side by side to eat.

“Cheers.”

They enjoyed watching the waves rolling into the shore. Starsky filled Hutch in on the news stories of the day and they talked about this and that. As they reached the end of their meal, Starsky decided that it was the perfect time to broach the subject of his partner’s low mood. He tried to think of an open-ended way to ask the question so his friend wouldn’t just say ‘no’ or tell him to mind his business.

“Hutch. The case we had week before last…with Mr Lowenstein. It was a sad one…It upset me too but you seemed to be all twisted up about it. Can you tell me why?”

Hutch twiddled the stem of his wine glass in his hand and stared at the burgundy liquid as it rolled around slowly. He sighed.

“It was just…Nobody cared enough to knock on his door when they hadn’t seen him for a few days. Nobody took the time to check in on him. Only needed one person and he’d still be here. It was no way to go…alone like that…He could’ve been your grandfather or my grandfather. How’d people get so busy that a sweet guy like that fell through the cracks?”

They knew from talking to the neighbours that Mr Lowenstein had always made time to talk to them when he was out on his daily walk. He’d also played chess at the local park three times a week. It was one of the chess players that had finally wondered where he had got to and alerted the police.

“I don’t know, pal. These things happen. I wish they didn’t but…I don’t know how we go about stopping it.”

Hutch lifted his eyes.

“Do you know all your neighbours?”

Starsky shrugged. “Most of them I guess. It’s hard with the shifts we do to know exactly who lives around me and all of their comings and goings. We aren’t always on sociable hours, are we?”

“No, we aren’t, but I’m going to make an effort to check in on my elderly neighbours more regularly. That’s something I can do and if it stops one person from being neglected then I’ll feel I’ve done a good thing.”

Starsky nodded. “I could do the same…You know maybe we could pop into our local community centres and talk to people, impress on them the importance of checking in with elderly neighbours.”

“That’s a good idea. The department’s always suggesting we need to talk to the community more. That would be a great way to do it and about something that’s important but also easy for people to do.”

Starsky could see the burden starting to lift off Hutch’s shoulders. Feeling like you couldn’t change anything was the worst feeling in the world. Realising there was something you could do, however small, lifted the spirits.

“You want any dessert?” Starsky asked. “There’s an apple pie I can put in the oven.”

“That sounds good. Thanks.”

Starsky nodded and went to get up.

“Thanks for everything. Thanks for this weekend away. I needed it.”

“I know,” Starsky said, but kindly with no hint of reproach.

Hutch smiled ruefully. “Did I get to the bear with a sore head stage?”

“Nah, more bear cub with a tooth ache,” Starsky informed him with a grin. “Make yourself useful, clear the table while I warm the pie.”

Hutch did as he was told and followed his friend into the kitchen. He dumped the dirty plates into the washing up bowl and filled the bowl with soapy water. He cleaned the plates and cutlery and left them to dry on the drainer.

“About ten minutes then the pie should be ready.”

The two of them headed back outside. Starsky poured the last of the wine into their two glasses and settled back in his chair. The sun was gradually sinking in the sky and the air was cooling off but the heat from the BBQ pit was enough to take the edge off for a few minutes longer.

“I think I’ll sleep well tonight,” Hutch said, “what with all that fresh air, the walk and this wine.”

“Good. Me too. What do you want to do tomorrow before we head back to the city? There’s a vineyard nearby does tours and wine tasting sessions if you’re interested. Or do you want another day to yourself?”

“Touring the vineyard sounds nice. The countryside around here is beautiful…and I’ve had enough of my own company for now.”

“Good.”

Starsky nodded in satisfaction. He was glad he’d made the effort to get Hutch away from the city and also to get him to talk.

“Hutch? Next time, don’t bottle all this stuff up. Talk to me. Okay?”

“Yeah…I will.”

Starsky looked at his watch.

“The pie should be ready. Wanna eat it indoors and maybe play some cards?”

Hutch nodded. He gathered up the salad bowl, took one last look at the setting sun and the waves, then followed his partner inside.